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Porsche tests new 911 RSR at Sebring

February 21, 2013

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Photo by PORSCHE

2 of 3

Photo by PORSCHE

3 of 3

Photo by PORSCHE

Porsche's development of its new 911 RSR GTE-class race car -- based on the all-new 991 model of its most famous road car -- is nearly complete, according to the German company. The latest 911 RSR on Feb. 21 completed a test at Florida's Sebring International Raceway, home of the American Le Mans Series season-opening Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring.

However, the RSR will not race at Sebring or in the ALMS this season. The car will be run exclusively by the Porsche AG Team Manthey factory squad at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June and in the FIA World Endurance Championship this year. The vehicle celebrates its race debut on April 14 at the WEC season-opener in Silverstone, England.

Sharing driving duties at Sebring were Porsche works drivers Richard Lietz (Austria) and Patrick Pilet (France). Lietz contests the WEC, including Le Mans, with Marc Lieb (Germany) at the wheel of the 911 RSR. Pilet joins forces with Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) in another entry. At the first two WEC rounds in Silverstone and at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, as well as at Le Mans, they receive backup from their factory pilot colleagues Romain Dumas (France) and Timo Bernhard (Germany).

“We are very pleased with how the testing has gone so far,” said Porsche motorsports boss Hartmut Kristen. “Our goal is to be well prepared for the challenges of the very strong GTE class in the WEC and at Le Mans. The circuit in Sebring is very well suited to put a new vehicle through some demanding trials. For this reason, a test in Sebring is a very good rehearsal for one of the toughest races of all, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Until the season kicks off in Silverstone, we will conduct some final tests on other race tracks so that our new 911 RSR is well and truly ready for the World Endurance Championship season.”

Meanwhile, no ALMS teams will this season enjoy factory status while campaigning the older 997 GT3 RSR based on the previous-generation 911.